That Piece Of Trash Was Me - Chapter 239

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 239

“Y-Your Majesty the Empress!”

“Your Majesty, are you alright?!”

I pretended to have a similar expression to the flustered nobles and turned around to look back. There was….

“Empress!”

Empress Carmi was sprawled on the ground. It was on the staircase of the platform.

“No. She was walking up just fine, so why did she suddenly fall?”

“Exactly. His Majesty the Emperor was even escorting her….”

“What can you expect with that background? How ridiculous.”

The cold sneers that followed quietly belonged to the old nobles.

Until now, Empress Carmi had been able to wield considerable influence in high society through ruthless image management, but there was a fundamental weakness she couldn’t shake off.

The fact that Carmi was a ‘court lady’ who had seized the empress’s position through an ‘affair’.

In other words, she had committed adultery by coveting her master’s man, of all people!

Thanks to this, the old nobles usually didn’t attend imperial banquets. After all, their families had plenty of young nobles, so sending them was sufficient.

But today was different.

“We’re seeing quite an interesting spectacle.”

“Hmph. It would be more accurate to call it a vulgar spectacle.”

Since this was the coming-of-age banquet for the Grand Duchess who was said to receive all the favor of Grand Duke Assis Frazier, many old nobles had attended.

That’s why the mocking laughter at Empress Carmi’s disgrace was even louder.

Emperor Alessandro was well aware of this and was seething inside.

Though he had helped Empress Carmi up for the moment, his eyes were fiercer than ever.

After all, Emperor Alessandro’s first wife was Empress Olivia!

A noble lady praised as the noblest of nobles, who boasted perfect refinement and etiquette!

Yet his second wife, Empress Carmi, couldn’t even walk properly and fell in front of these pack of wolves-like old nobles!

What kind of humiliation was this!

Emperor Alessandro lowered his voice and spoke through gritted teeth.

“Carmi! What kind of conduct is this?”

“Y-Your Majesty….”

Empress Carmi’s eyes welled up with tears from the pain and humiliation, but she couldn’t dare complain.

Just from the Emperor’s gaze, she could tell what he was thinking.

He was comparing that damned woman with herself!

“Hurry up! If others see this, they’ll mock us even more. Saying that I’ve grown old and can’t even properly manage one empress!”

“That’s not it…!”

Empress Carmi bit down hard on her red-painted lips and barely managed to follow beside the Emperor.

Even after Emperor Alessandro sat in his seat on the platform, he continued to emanate a cold aura.

“Your Majesty the Empress. Are you alright?”

The head maid asked anxiously in a small voice.

Empress Carmi waved her hand with a weak smile, conscious of the many gazes watching her.

“Go prepare a new pair of shoes.”

“…!”

The head maid whispered with surprised eyes.

“Did someone perhaps tamper with your shoes….”

Empress Carmi quickly sent a meaningful glance, conscious of Emperor Alessandro sitting beside her.

“No. They cracked due to my mistake. Go prepare them quickly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Though she answered the head maid gracefully, Empress Carmi’s insides were actually in complete chaos.

‘What on earth happened!’

The heel of her shoe under her gorgeous, flowing dress had broken.

Given Empress Carmi’s personality, if such a thing had happened, she would have secretly beaten a court lady to death for negligent management, but right now there were too many old nobles glaring at her!

‘Those gloomy foxes…!’

They would surely keep watching her for a while. If Carmi got caught by those stubborn old folks while dealing with a court lady behind the scenes, what would happen?

It was obvious that the image she had built up would suffer a major blow!

‘Insolent old people!’

But acting rashly at a time like this would do no good, so in the end she had nowhere to vent her frustration.

Empress Carmi was so angry she could go mad.

‘Why did these expensive shoes suddenly break today of all days, and on the staircase of all places!’

With no one to blame, her luck was so terribly bad that she could only blame the heavens.

Having lost all face, Empress Carmi ground her teeth inwardly.

* * *

[System] You have completed using the benefit ‘Beauty That Topples Nations’.

I swallowed a satisfied smile as I watched the text disappear like light in the air. Actually, I was a bit surprised too.

‘This actually works.’

You can physically destroy any scale of ‘nation’ you desire! Use your imagination to the fullest!

‘Shoes are a nation too, right?’

The nation of feet.

Of course, it was nonsense.

But to understand what this vaguely-felt benefit was, I had to start exploring from ranges with minimal impact.

What if I acted rashly and a real nation collapsed, society crumbled, the world fell apart, and the system collapsed?

So something that would be fine to destroy!

No, something I’d be glad to see destroyed!

I’d use the benefit on Carmi’s shoes first.

Anyway, wasn’t it the system window that first told me to use my imagination to the fullest?

Those words lingered in my head like something was wrong with me.

So I tried using the benefit. On destroying Empress Carmi’s shoes.

‘I never imagined it would actually work.’

I thought it would be a wash anyway!

Empress Carmi had fallen, and by tumbling down several steps, she had really lost about ten years’ worth of face.

The Emperor beside her also lost face along with her.

When Carmi fell because her shoe broke, if the Emperor had nimbly caught her, at least the unseemly sight of rolling down the stairs wouldn’t have happened.

A husband who can’t even escort his wife properly. Would an emperor be any different from becoming a laughingstock among nobles?

Everyone would pretend not to notice while only staring at Emperor Alessandro’s crotch.

‘To mock whether he’s become unable to perform as a man.’

“Tulia. You look like you’re in a good mood.”

“Wasn’t it funny for you too, Grandfather?”

“Hmm.”

It happened to be time for a turn. Grandfather, who had come close, smiled mischievously, which was rare for him.

“Honestly, it was quite amusing.”

“Hehe.”

Grandfather and I danced joyfully. Then I danced with Father too, but unexpectedly, Father was….

‘Father…. Are you crying?’

For a moment I wondered if I had seen wrong. I had reason to doubt, because every time I turned and looked again, Father’s eyes looked fine.

‘That’s not right. Before the turn, his eyes were definitely slightly reddened.’

Does Father know how to use magic?

The puzzlement was brief.

As the dance music continued, I became certain.

‘He’s crying…’

I had concluded that I was truly Tulia, that is, I had been Tulia since birth without a doubt.

I already had deep affection for this Frazier family, but now even the thin veil that had been covering it was lifted.

Perhaps that’s why my heart ached seeing Father pretending not to cry.

‘He must be thinking of Mother.’

I wish Mother were alive. Then everyone would be smiling right now.

I looked at Father with a bitter feeling. Father had a similar expression to mine.

So we must have been thinking the same thing.

It would have been good if Mother were alive.

It would have been good if she were by our side.

In the end, it was Father who smiled first. I also tried to lighten the mood by asking.

“Father. How do I look today?”

At those words, Father looked at me and nodded.

“You’re the most radiant in the world.”

“I think so too, Father.”

In the end, we both burst into laughter.

Only then did the dance music end, and Father politely bowed to me.

“Hey! Tulia Frazier!”

Just then, Leon Frazier strode over and spoke arrogantly.

“Now it’s time to dance with me. I’ve been waiting specifically to dance with you, so there’s no need to cry from being moved.”

I completely ignored Leon Frazier’s words and smiled brightly at Lisian.

“Lisian! Let’s dance together!”

“Alright, Tulia.”

At Lisian’s smile, Leon Frazier shouted with an incredulous expression.

“Brother! You said you’d let me go first this time! Hey! Tulia Frazier! Why do you always push me to last? Huh? Does being the youngest give you everything? Is it enough to just take care of your older brother? Can’t you even hear your Second Older Brother? Huh?”

I let it go in one ear and out the other while observing Lisian, then was genuinely amazed.

He wore a silver-white suit today, which combined with his clean silver hair gave him the feeling of a Snow Fairy.

“Lisian, you really look handsome today.”

“What kind of nonsense is this!”

So I danced in turn with Lisian, and then with that Leon Frazier fellow too.

My first day as the upgraded Female Protagonist of a survival story…

Was more enjoyable and exciting than I thought.

* * *

The day after the banquet.

I suppressed my laughter while observing Empress Carmi’s complexion, which had become haggard in just one day.

Glancing beneath her dress, I could see neatly arranged leather shoes between the sky-blue silk skirt folds.

‘She came out without wearing heels at all.’

Yesterday’s incident must have been quite shocking.

‘But I can also topple those using my Benefit, right?’

Of course, I didn’t use my Benefit this time.

‘Look at Empress Carmi’s personality. On the first day, she probably thought it was just bad luck, but if her shoes had problems for a second day too…’

She’s the type of person who would cry and make a fuss to the Emperor, claiming someone was plotting against her.

Besides, even I would find it strange if the Empress’s shoes had problems for two consecutive days.

So it was better to be satisfied with Empress Carmi just being frivolous enough to have yesterday’s accident.

‘Just try touching my carriage again.’

Next time, I’ll really just…

For the first time in my life, I felt like a Predator as I subtly looked over Empress Carmi.

Thanks to my Benefit’s protection, I got to experience this feeling too.

‘This is nice?’

Moreover.

“Grand Duchess. Today’s dress color is truly mysterious too. Can tulle now be made with this starry material?”

“When will we be able to see it in the salon?”

“Mother also really wants to make and wear a dress with this fabric…”

The power of maxed-out beauty Stats was great! People became interested in me and attributed my sudden sparkling radiance to the fabric!

‘That’s what I hoped for when I only wore Baektul Salon dresses!’

Everyone buy my clothes!

Everyone shower me with money!

With a kind Sales Representative mindset, I answered the Nobles one by one, then glanced at the clock and asked for understanding.

“Time has already gotten this late. Everyone, I need to go to the Dance Floor first.”

“Oh my! We kept you too long. Grand Duchess! It’s almost time to dance!”

Warm greetings were exchanged, and I moved my steps.

On the first day of the Coming of Age Banquet, it was proper to dance with Family Members and relatives.

But on the second day, the dance partners were different. You danced with your closest same-sex friend.

‘Tulia did make some Ladies she could call friends.’

Though initially formed for business and networking purposes, through exchanging letters, there were surprisingly many Peers of the same age who got along well with me.

Some of them even sent letters asking if I’d like to dance together on the second day of the banquet.

‘I politely declined them all.’

Because I had already chosen who I wanted to dance with.

I could feel People’s gazes focusing on me with each click-clack of my steps.

In the past, I would have unconsciously tensed up, but now I wasn’t intimidated at all. Even I didn’t know when I had changed like this.

I stopped in front of one Girl.

A face that resembled my past self too much.

That very face that reminded me of a past I wanted to forget.

A being who received abundant love from the Temple, who had grasped the name of Saint. Moreover, a being that Frazier House would never treat poorly.

‘Coriko.’

Thanks to that, she stood in this Grand Banquet Hall wearing a conspicuously gorgeous and precious dress.

“Coriko, let’s dance together.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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